Button Accessory for Hat, Beanie, or Cap

ABSTRACT

A button accessory that attaches to a hat, beanie, or cap and provides an anchor for the elastic loop straps of the commonly used facemask. The button accessory includes an internal button and an external button connected together through the fabric of the hat, beanie, or cap. In order to make the connection between the internal button and the external button, a post is attached to the internal button, and its distal end penetrates through the fabric of the hat. The external button has a post grip mechanism that engages the post to secure the button accessory to the hat, beanie, or cap. A pom attachment accessory provides for interchanging poms on a standard hat, beanie, or cap. A pom button is attached to the pom. A post button has a post that protrudes from the inside to the outside of the hat, beanie, or cap. The pom button engages the protruding post protruding post of a post button thereby releasably attaching the pom to the hat, beanie, or cap.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/301,184, filed Jan. 20, 2022, which is incorporated herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to a button accessory that attaches to a hat, beanie, or cap. More particularly, the invention relates to a button accessory that facilitates the attachment of a facemask with elastic loop straps to the hat, beanie, or cap to hold the facemask in place on a user's face. In another embodiment of the button accessory, the button accessory releasably attaches a pom to the top of the hat, beanie, or cap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A commonly used facemask includes a face cover portion that covers the nose and mouth of the user and elastic loop straps. The elastic loop straps stretch from the face cover portion of the facemask to extend around the ears of the user in order to secure the facemask in place. The connection between the user's ears and the elastic loop straps becomes difficult when the user dons a hat, beanie, or cap that covers the user's ears. The situation is further complicated if the user wears spectacles.

Attaching the elastic loop straps to the user's ears require the removal and replacement of the hat, beanie or cap. Removal of the elastic loop straps from the user's ears requires careful manipulation so that the elastic loop straps do not become entangled with the bows of a user's spectacles.

In order to add style to a hat, beanie, or cap, a pom is often attached to the top of the hat, beanie, or cap. Typically the pom is permanently affixed to the top thereby limiting the range of colors and styles of the pom. In some instances, specialized beanies exist that have a fastener permanently fixed to the top of the beanie. A series of poms with a matching fastener can then be exchanged with the specialized beanie in order to create different looks. The exchanging of various poms, however, is only available for the specialized beanie with the permanent fastener.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to overcome the difficulties relating to the attachment and removal of the elastic loop straps of the facemask to and from the user's ears, the current invention is a button accessory that attaches to a hat, beanie, or cap and provides an anchor for the elastic loop straps of the commonly used facemask. More particularly, the button accessory includes an internal button and an external button connected together through the fabric of the hat, beanie, or cap. In order to make the connection between the internal button and the external button, a post is attached to the internal button, and its distal end penetrates through the fabric of the hat, beanie, or cap. The post has an engagement mechanism along its length. The external button has a post grip mechanism that grips the engagement mechanism of the post to secure the button accessory to the hat, beanie, or cap. The attachment of the external button to the post may include a frictional fit between the post and an opening in the external button, grooves on the post and a clamp embedded in the external button, or external threads on the post and internal threads embedded in the external button.

The internal button has a head side surface that is adjacent the user's head when the button accessory is fitted to the hat, beanie, or cap, and the hat, beanie, or cap is worn by the user. The head side surface is generally soft and flexible in order to assure comfort where the inside surface contacts the user's head. The head side surface may be printed or embossed with suitable designs or text. The internal button also has an internal fabric side surface that is adjacent the fabric of the hat, beanie, or cap when the button accessory is attached to the hat, beanie, or cap.

The external button has an outer side surface that is configured so that the distal end of the post is covered to ensure that the post does not come in contact with a user or others once the button accessory is in place on the hat, beanie, or cap. The outer side surface may be printed or embossed with suitable designs or text to enhance the aesthetic or commercial value of the button accessory. The external button also has an internal fabric side surface that is adjacent the fabric of the hat, beanie, or cap when the button accessory is attached to the hat, beanie, or cap.

Once the button accessory is in place on the hat, beanie, or cap, the user simply wraps the elastic loop straps of the commonly used facemask around the external button thereby holding the facemask in place on the user's face.

In a second embodiment, the present invention includes a pom attachment accessory that releasably secures a pom to the top the hat, beanie, or cap. Particularly, the pom attachment accessory includes a post button and a pom button. The post button includes a base with an extending post. The post includes a securing mechanism that may include external threads, an external friction surface, or an enlarged snap-like head. The pom button includes openings to secure the pom button to a pom and a post gripping mechanism that engages the securing mechanism of the post and may include internal threads, an internal friction surface, or a snap-like receptacle.

In use, the user can secure a number of different poms to a standard hat, beanie, or cap to produce different fashion effects. The user pushes the post of the post button through the top of the hat, beanie, or cap from the inside out thereby exposing the post. The user then pushes or threads the post gripping mechanism with its attached pom onto the post to secure the pom to the hat, beanie, or cap. The pom can then be removed and interchanged with a different pom having a compatible pom button.

Further objects, features and advantages will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the drawings and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a beanie and a facemask with a button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an outside surface perspective view of an external button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an outside surface elevation view of the external button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the external button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a section view of the external button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie as seen along line 5-5 of FIG. 3 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a fabric side surface elevation view of the external button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a fabric side surface perspective view of an internal button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a head side surface perspective view of the internal button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a fabric side surface elevation view of the internal button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation view of the internal button of the button accessory for attaching the facemask to the beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded side elevation view of the button accessory in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation view of the button accessory attached to a hat, beanie, or cap in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a beanie porn attachment accessory with a detachable, interchangeable porn in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a bottom plan view of a porn button in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a section view of the porn button as seen along line 15-15 of FIG. 14 in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of a post button in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded side elevation view of the porn button accessory in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a side elevation view of the porn button accessory attached to a beanie in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged side elevation view of FIG. 18 in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a button accessory 20 used to attach a facemask 12 to a beanie 10 constructed of a fabric 11. While FIG. 1 shows a beanie 10, the button accessory 20 will function equally well for a hat or cap, such as a baseball cap. The facemask 12 is a commonly used facemask with a face cover portion 14 for covering a user's nose and mouth and elastic loop straps 16 for attaching the facemask 12 to the ears of a user. As shown in FIG. 1 , the elastic loop straps 16 are connected to the button accessories 20 attached to either side of the beanie 10 adjacent the user's ears. The button accessory 20 comprises an internal button 22 (FIGS. 7-10 ) and an external button 34 (FIGS. 2-6 ). The button accessory 20 can be placed at any position on the beanie 10 to accommodate the particular user and the particular facemask 12 being used. If conditions change, the button accessory 20 can be removed from its position and repositioned on the beanie 10.

FIGS. 7-10 show details of the internal post button 22. The internal post button 22 has a circular base 23 with a head side surface 30 and an internal fabric side surface 32. A button post 24 extends from the base 23 and has a distal end 28. The distal end 28 is pointed in order to penetrate the fabric 11 of the beanie 10. The button post 24 has an engagement mechanism 26. For the button post 24 shown in FIGS. 7-10 , the engagement mechanism 26 is the outer surface of the button post 24.

FIGS. 2-6 show details of the external button 34. The external button 34 has a circular external button base 35 with an external fabric side surface 44 and an outer side surface 42. The external button 34 also has a post gripping mechanism 36 in the form of an inwardly tapering hole 37. A flange 46 (FIGS. 4 and 5 ) encircles the inwardly tapered hole 37 and extends outward from the external fabric side surface 44. The flange 46 provides a space to accommodate the elastic loop straps 16 of the facemask 12.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the button accessory 20. As previously stated, the button accessory 20 includes a circular internal button 22 and a circular external button 34. When in place on the beanie 10 (FIG. 12 ), the internal button 22 is positioned inside the beanie 10 and the external button 34 is positioned on the outside of the beanie 10 with the beanie fabric 11 sandwiched between the internal button 22 and the exterior button 34.

With reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 , the internal button 22 has a soft flexible head side surface 30 and an internal fabric side surface 32. When the button accessory 20 is attached to the beanie 10 (FIG. 12 ), the head side surface 30 of the internal button 22 is in contact with the user's head. Consequently, the head side surface 30 is soft and flexible to assure comfort for the user. Further, when the button accessory 20 is attached to the beanie 10, the internal fabric side surface 32 of the internal button 22 is in contact with the fabric 11 of the beanie 10.

With continuing reference to FIGS. 11 and 12 , the internal button 22 has a post 24 extending outwardly from the internal fabric side surface 32. The post 24 has a pointed distal end 28 so that the post 24 can penetrate through the fabric 11 of the beanie 10. The post 24 has an engagement mechanism 26 (FIG. 11 ) located between the distal end 28 and the internal fabric side surface 32. For example, the engagement mechanism 26 can take the form of a friction surface, grooves, or threads.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 , the external button 34 has an external fabric side surface 44 and an outer side surface 42. The outer side surface 42 of the external button 34 is composed of a printable surface on which designs or text 48 can be printed or embossed with text 48 or a design (FIG. 3 ). A post grip mechanism 36 is embedded at the center of the external button 34. The post grip mechanism 36 can take the form of an opening with an internal friction surface for engaging the engagement mechanism 26 on the post 24, a clamp for engaging the engagement mechanism 26 on the post 24, or internal threads for engaging the engagement mechanism 26 on the post 24. The outer side surface 42 of external button 34 also has a protective center cover 40 to assure that the pointed distal end 28 of the post 24 does not extend beyond the outer side surface 42 to create a hazard for the user or others.

In a second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 13-19 , the present invention includes a pom attachment accessory 52 that secures a pom 50 to the top the beanie 10. Particularly, the pom attachment accessory 52 includes a post button 60 and a pom button 54.

FIG. 16 shows the details of the post button 60 that is attached to the top of the beanie 10. Particularly, the post button 60 has a base 64 with the protruding post 62. The post button 60 is positioned inside the top of the beanie 10 with the post 62 protruding upward from and out of the top of the beanie 10. The post button 60 further has a securing mechanism which as shown includes an enlarged snap-like head 68. Other securing mechanisms include, for example, external threads or external friction surface.

FIGS. 14-15 show the details of the pom button 54 that is attached to the pom. Particularly, the pom button 54 has a base 56 with openings 56. The openings 56 are used to secure the pom button 54 to the pom 50, such as by stitching. The pom button 54 further has a post gripping mechanism 58, which in this case is a reduced cross-section receptacle that engages the enlarged snap-like head 68 of the post button 60. Again other gripping mechanisms, for example, include internal threads or internal friction surface.

As shown in FIGS. 16-18 , the post button 60 includes a base 64 with an extending post 62. The post 62 includes a securing mechanism 66 in the form of an enlarged snap-like head 68. The securing mechanism 66, however, may include external threads or a friction surface.

In use, the user can secure a number of different poms 50 with an attached pom attachment accessory 52 to a standard hat, beanie, or cap 10 to produce different fashion effects. The user pushes the post 62 of the post button 60 through the top of the beanie 10 from the inside out thereby exposing the post 62. The user then pushes the post gripping mechanism 58 with its attached pom 50 onto the post 62 to secure the pom 50 to the beanie 10 by means of the enlarged snap-like head 68 and the snap-like receptacle 70.

While this invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that variations and modifications can be affected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described herein and as described in the appended claims. 

We claim:
 1. A button accessory for a hat, beanie, or cap for securing a facemask to a user, wherein the hat, beanie, or cap is made of a fabric and the facemask has a face cover portion and elastic loop straps, the button accessory comprising: a. an internal button including: i. a head side surface to be positioned adjacent the user's head; ii. an internal fabric side surface to be positioned adjacent the fabric of the hat, beanie, or cap; and iii. a post attached to and extending away from the internal fabric side surface, the post including: (a) a distal end for penetrating the fabric; and (b) an engagement mechanism adjacent the distal end; and b. an external button including: i. an outer side surface; ii. an exterior fabric side surface; and iii. a post grip mechanism for engaging the distal end of the post; and wherein the elastic loop straps of the facemask engage the external button to hold the facemask in place.
 2. The button accessory according to claim 1, wherein the outer side surface of the external button is printed or embossed.
 3. The button accessory according to claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanism of the post includes external threads, a friction surface, or an enlarged snap-like head.
 4. The button accessory according to claim 1, wherein the post gripping mechanism includes internal threads, and internal friction surface, or a snap-like receptacle.
 5. The button accessory according to claim 1, wherein the external button includes a central flange to accommodate the straps of the facemask.
 6. A pom attachment accessory for a hat, beanie, or cap for providing interchangeable poms for a standard hat, beanie, or cap, wherein the hat, beanie, or cap is made of a fabric, the pom attachment accessory comprising: a. an internal post button including: i. a base to be positioned inside the parent or beanie adjacent a user's head; ii. a post extending away from the base, the post including: (a) a distal end for penetrating the fabric in protruding from the hat, beanie, or cap; and (b) a securing mechanism adjacent the distal end; and b. an external pom button with an attached pom, the pom button including a post gripping mechanism for engaging the distal end of the post.
 7. The pom attachment accessory according to claim 6, wherein the securing mechanism of the post includes external threads, a friction surface, or an enlarged snap-like head.
 8. The button accessory according to claim 6, wherein the post gripping mechanism includes internal threads, and internal friction surface, or a snap-like receptacle. 